Crisis and Bubonic Plague (576-579)

Joshua

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE

Spread of Bubonic Plague in Europe 14th century

The Little Ice Age

• Global climate change in 1300 C.E.
• Average temperatures decreased for 500 years, mini ice age
• Agricultural production decreased in many areas
• Norse people living in Greenland had to migrate

Origins of The Plague

• Along with the cold, most of the eastern hemisphere experienced the bubonic plague
• came from the Yunnan region in southwest China
• Is a bacteria transfered by fleas, mostly infects rodents
• Fleas can infect people
• In 1331, an outbreak killed 90% of the people in Hebei, near Beijing
• Broke out widespread in China in the 1350s

Spread of The Plague

• Began to be spread in 1340s by Mongols, merchants, and travelers
• Thrived in large cities with many animals for flea breeding grounds
• Reached the Black Sea by 1347
• Reached the rest of western Europe in 1348

Effects of The Plague

*also known as the black death
*lymph nodes, internal bleeding
*60-90% of victims died, could wipe out a town in just a few months
*some places did not suffer because of cold temps
*india avoided detrimental effects

Population Decline

*china, europe populations decreased dramatically
*islamic societies also effected by plague

Social and Economic Effects

• The disease caused massive labor shortages, which led to social unrest
• In western Europe, workers demanded higher wages and left their homes in search of better conditions
  • Landlords responded to this by restricting the freedom of peasants to move
• Authorities resisted change; peasant rebellions
  • but only after considerable social disruption and loss of life